Board of Directors

Dr. Anne-Marie Irani received her medical degree from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon and completed fellowships in Allergy/Immunology as well as Pediatric Rheumatology in New York, Boston and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond where she served as past Chair of the Division of Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Rheumatology, co-director of the Allergy Immunology Fellowship program and Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine for 33 years. In 2019, Dr Irani retired from VCU where she remains as Professor Emerita of Pediatrics. She joined the pharmaceutical industry as a Medical Expert for GSK, then as a Senior Medical Director for Aimmune Therapeutics until February 2023.

During her scientific career, Dr. Irani authored or co-authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications, and more than 20 reviews or book chapters. She also served the medical community on numerous boards and committees, including the editorial board of The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology, as well as serving on the executive committee of the Section on Allergy and Immunology of the American Academy of Pediatrics and as the secretary treasurer of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Currently, Dr Irani is a member of the Board of Trustees of INTEALTH, previously the Education Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG), and the Foundation for Advancement of International Medical Education and Research (FAIMER).

Anne-Marie is very involved in her local community as well. In addition to joining the Board of Directors of FreeHorse Arts, she has served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia Opera, is currently completing a second term on the Board of Directors of SPARC (the School for the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community) and recently joined the Board of Directors of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (VMFA). In December 2016, Anne-Marie and her husband Lawrence Schwartz opened a Lebanese restaurant in Richmond “Natalie’s Taste of Lebanon” named after their wonderful daughter. The restaurant has a dual mission of employing young adults with various abilities while showcasing the cuisine and culture of Lebanon.